How do you keep up with housework?

Hi all, 

I find it getting really hard to keep my house clean and my laundry caught up.  Having FM for over 12 years now, you wouldn't believe how messy my house has gotten.  I hate to have anyone over because it's always cluttered and messy.  I try to do what I can but it gets so overwhelming for me.  Doing the laundy just kills my lower back.  I do try and get the kids to help me...but they usually make more of a mess than they clean up and end up fighting with each other.  We do not have the funds to hire someone to help me.

I have a question for y'all.   How does FM effect you in this and how do you handle it?

Lynn

Hi My husband is really good about helping me out, he does all my floors (he doesn't think I do a good job, OH darn).  My son vac**** but usually laundry is mine.  My husband will do some loads but I try to do it every few days.  When my Dad is living with us  he helps out to.  My house always seems cluttered too so I'm trying to put in a system of where the mail goes and put things away after using them.  I'm having a hard time going through my clothes and what fits me and what doesn't seems to overwhelm me so my bedroom is a contant state of disorder which really bothers me. Deb

The only thing that works for me is to pace myself.  I never clean the whole house in a day.  I take one to threee projects a day and if I get behind--oh well. I only care for my mom so I do not have kids and it is hard enough because she has company a lot. My family members scrutinize me and think I ought to keep the house better so I say, your right, it should be cleaner, so when can I count on you to pitch in and help or send me a maid?  This shuts em up temporarilty. I know here in AZ they have a domestic serive through the government to have house cleaning and even cooking if someone is disabled.  You may want to check out your gov office website--or even ss. Take care, Mary

I do what I can WHEN i can, just alittl bit  there & there, one thing at a time. SOme days are better than others,as we all know, right! I cant afford help either, sO I know what you mean there. Good luck to you,  Angelic

For me, I do all the house work, and laundry. I have my daughter who does the dishes and I make my sons take out the trash. I have severe problems with anxiety and one of my things that I do when it gets bad is clean. I send myself into flares continuiously because I won't listen to my body when it is telling me to stop. I pay dearly for it and my kids stay mad at me cause they end up with more of the load when I have pushed myself too far. I know they will live through it and be stronger people but I do feel guilty that they have to take on so much of the burden sometime. Amy

Hi Lynn,

This is a big issue for me too, fortunately, I have a kind and loving husband who will help me. I know not everyone has this luxury. Before I met and married him, I had quite a struggle trying to keep up with all of it. Especially if I was in the middle of a flare up. One thing I have been doing for years is stopped puting aspartame in my mouth. It will send me into a flare up quick and take me down until it is out of my system. 

                                                 Phyllis

HA ... I don't.  This place is a mess!  Thank the Lord for paperplates and carryout.  I do a little as I can.  Since it is just me now and I am off work on disability, I don't have a lot of laundry.  I limit my cooking and try to just not let it stress me out.